News & Views

AAFP

EveryCat Health Foundation and the AAFP announce 2022 joint scholarship winners

EveryCat Health Foundation and the AAFP congratulate the recipients of the 2022 joint scholarships for feline clinical practice and feline clinical research. The scholarships were awarded to two students who show exceptional effort and dedication to elevating feline care, and were issued based on the students’ academic achievement, financial need, leadership and excellence in the study of feline medicine.

Receiving the 2022 feline clinical practice scholarship is Alison Legett; Amanda Diaz receives the feline 2022 clinical research scientist scholarship.

Cat Friendly Certificate Program launches in Spanish and Portuguese

The AAFP is thrilled to announce that the Cat Friendly Certificate Program is now available in Spanish and Portuguese. The Certificate Program joins the AAFP’s expanding catalogue of translated educational material, and the AAFP is excited to be able to share the groundbreaking programs with veterinary professionals in new communities. Individuals working in a veterinary practice can now take the Cat Friendly Veterinarian, Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional and Cat Friendly Veterinary Advocate courses in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and join over 5000 others who have already earned their certificate.

The Cat Friendly Certificate Program aims to build an individual’s knowledge, skills and best in-clinic practices for feline medicine based on their role within a practice.

ISFM/iCatCare

2022 ISFM Virtual Congress: Feline Fine

The ISFM in-person Congress in Rhodes, which took place in June (see the September issue for more information), may have now passed, but it is not too late to enjoy ISFM’s 2022 congress theme of ‘Feline Fine’ as it continues online. ISFM’s Virtual Congress, which launches on 30 July, offers more than 30 h of feline CPD, allowing delegates to evolve their cat friendly skills from the comfort of their own homes.

All of the content from the 4 days of high-level, practical lectures at Rhodes can be accessed, and include talks from Dr Sarah Heath, Professor Danielle Gunn-Moore, Professor Clare Rusbridge and Dr Matt Gurney on pain management, cognitive dysfunction and neurology. In addition, the Virtual Congress includes exclusive bonus content and additional Q&A sessions.

iCatCare Cat Friendly Principles announced at Church House

International Cat Care, the parent charity of ISFM, held its ‘Being Cat Friendly’ event on 29 April at Church House, London.

In attendance was the charity’s patron Lord Black, past and present trustees, and supporters and friends of the charity.

CEO Claire Bessant unveiled the new Cat Friendly Principles, which outline how iCatCare will continue to consider cats and work together with the people involved in their care. The principles are:

1 Respect cats. Respect the diversity of the species and understand the individual cat.

2 Keep cats well. Giving equal consideration to the physical health and mental wellbeing of cats.

3 Do cats no harm. Ensure cats are no worse off as a result of people or their activities.

4 Be solution-driven. Find evidence-based, pragmatic and sustainable solutions for cats.

5 Communicate for cats. Communicate considerately and share knowledge generously for the sake of cats.

6 Collaborate for cats. Work together, locally, internationally and with people from different backgrounds, always supporting and valuing each other.

7 Evolve for cats. Be innovative, remain curious and keep learning for cats.

On creating the principles, Claire comments: ‘The Cat Friendly Principles will guide us in what we do; we hope others will sign up to them and they will aid the navigation of the tricky cat dilemmas that face us all’.